{"id":300,"date":"2023-08-08T09:34:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T09:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/editmentor.com\/blog\/?p=300"},"modified":"2024-08-29T22:46:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T22:46:44","slug":"plot-devices-that-are-often-used-in-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/editmentor.com\/blog\/plot-devices-that-are-often-used-in-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"Plot Devices: Most Popular Devices Used in Movies"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<p class=\"\">Finding ways to move a film\u2019s narrative forward can be challenging. Filmmakers will often employ the usage of Plot Devices to aid in the story&#8217;s progression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/help.editmentor.com\/en\/articles\/5445686-plot-devices\">A plot device<\/a> can take many forms. However, at its core they are common storytelling mechanics to advance the plot. At times these tropes run the risk of feeling clich\u00e9 if it feels too forced at its occurrences in the story.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><em>However, if the filmmakers can find ways in which the plot device can occur organically within the story&#8217;s characters, setting, and events, they can be powerful tools that may go undetected by the viewer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There are many plot device concepts that exist, but these are <em>a few <\/em>worth mentioning. You can learn more about plot devices in EditMentor&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/editmentor.com\/pro-workshops\/advanced-editing-workshop-with-stephen-mark-ace\">advanced editing workshop<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MacGuffin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A MacGuffin is one of the most popular plot devices, often associated with Alfred Hitchcock in coining the term. In storytelling, it helps to <strong>establish an objective that motivates the main character to move forward within the story<\/strong>. It is typically an item, person, or goal to obtain. However, one can later discover in the story that this \u201cgoal\u201d is irrelevant and that there is a deeper objective for our protagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"668\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/PsychoR-Marion-and-money.jpeg?resize=1000%2C668&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"MacGuffin plot device\" class=\"wp-image-382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/PsychoR-Marion-and-money.jpeg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/PsychoR-Marion-and-money.jpeg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/PsychoR-Marion-and-money.jpeg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Psycho<\/em> (1960) &#8211; Universal Pictures<\/strong><br>Marion Crane runs off after embezzling money from her employer&#8217;s client. In her escape, she finds herself at The Bates Motel where she soon meets an ill-fate. The money ceases to be relevant but it functions in setting the story into motion.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A great way to figure out if a protagonist\u2019s objective is a MacGuffin is to imagine replacing the \u201cobjective\u201d with something else.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong><em>Would it be the same story?<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If so, then the objective established at first is a MacGuffin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Red Herring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A Red Herring is a type of narrative misdirection that <strong>presents the audience with a misleading or false clue<\/strong>. <strong>It is commonly popular in film genres such as mystery or thrillers<\/strong>. Through this technique the audience tries to guess the outcome. They mentally engage in the storytelling culminating in what is hopefully a rewarding surprise at the reveal.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"886\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Pettigrew.jpeg?resize=886%2C590&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Red Herring\" class=\"wp-image-384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Pettigrew.jpeg?w=886&amp;ssl=1 886w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Pettigrew.jpeg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Pettigrew.jpeg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban<\/em> (2004) &#8211; Warner Bros. Pictures<\/strong><br>The movie sets-up Sirius Black as a direct threat to Harry Potter in The Prisoner of Azkaban.&nbsp; However, the real villain is revealed to be none other than Ron Weasley&#8217;s pet rat, Scabbers by the end of the film who turns out to be an animagus, Peter Pettigrew.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ticking Clock <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Sometimes also nicknamed the Ticking Time Bomb, a Ticking Clock is a common story trope. It helps to increase the stakes and tension for the main character to meet their goal by a specific time. This can also help the audience to become more actively and emotionally involved in the story. This is because they become concerned over whether or not the protagonist will beat the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Cinderella_Midnight-Dash.jpeg?resize=1024%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cinderella plot device\" class=\"wp-image-385\" style=\"width:841px;height:525px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Cinderella_Midnight-Dash.jpeg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Cinderella_Midnight-Dash.jpeg?resize=300%2C188&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Cinderella_Midnight-Dash.jpeg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Cinderella<\/em> (1950) &#8211; Walt Disney Productions<\/strong><br>Cinderella has till midnight to attend the ball before her fairy godmother&#8217;s magic fades.&nbsp; At the conclusion of this Ticking Clock, her elegant facade disappears and her carriage turns back into a pumpkin.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The ticking clock is usually established early on within the film. The main character learns they have a limited time to reach their goal. That can be be finding authentic tortillas in an hour or saving the world from an asteroid in 24 hours. No matter how the ticking clock is set up, <strong>it is one of the plot devices that regularly works to create a sense of urgency.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deus ex Machina<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Latin for \u201cgod from the machine&#8221; Deus ex Machina is <strong>when a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and unexpectedly resolved with an easy solution by an unlikely occurrence<\/strong>. Many times this method of storytelling can feel too convenient, overly simplistic, and unrewarding to the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ToyStory_Pizza-Planet-Truck.jpg?resize=1024%2C574&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Deus ex Machina\" class=\"wp-image-386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ToyStory_Pizza-Planet-Truck.jpg?resize=1024%2C574&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ToyStory_Pizza-Planet-Truck.jpg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ToyStory_Pizza-Planet-Truck.jpg?resize=768%2C431&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ToyStory_Pizza-Planet-Truck.jpg?resize=1536%2C862&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ToyStory_Pizza-Planet-Truck.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Toy Story <\/em>(1995) &#8211; Pixar Animation Studios<\/strong><br>Buzz and Woody are separated from their owner, Andy, who&#8217;s known destination was a Pizza Planet. Conveniently, a deus ex machina arrives in the form of a Pizza Planet delivery truck.&nbsp; Buzz and Woody decide to hop in while the truck refuels.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In Medias Res<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Another frequently used latin phrase, In Media Res, meaning &#8220;into the midst of things&#8221; is one of the plot devices that <strong>causes the audience to start in the middle of the plot or action<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This can be a creative way to engage your audience in becoming an active participant in piecing together the film&#8217;s narrative. This non-linear technique leads the audience to question how the character or characters found themselves in this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This is a useful technique to energize the start of your film. Also, it can be used to hook the audience with curiosity or questions before you begin setting up the film&#8217;s exposition.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"627\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Forrest-Gump_Bench.jpeg?resize=940%2C627&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"In Medias Res plot devices\" class=\"wp-image-387\" style=\"width:842px;height:560px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Forrest-Gump_Bench.jpeg?w=940&amp;ssl=1 940w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Forrest-Gump_Bench.jpeg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Forrest-Gump_Bench.jpeg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Forrest Gump <\/em>(1994) &#8211; Paramount Pictures<\/strong><br>The film starts in the middle of the story where the main character narrates his past through a series of flashbacks.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cliffhanger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>A Cliffhanger occurs when the story ends in an intriguing abrupt manner<\/strong>. <strong>It can be<\/strong> s<strong>ometimes at the end of a sequence or episode, often with the protagonist or featured character(s) left in a difficult situation that may seem unsolvable<\/strong>. This device is frequently used in television and various episodic media formats where you want to leave the audience with a compelling question about the story&#8217;s resolution. That will get them to return to the next installment in the series.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barbossa-Deadmans-Chest.jpg?resize=1024%2C560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cliffhanger\" class=\"wp-image-388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barbossa-Deadmans-Chest.jpg?resize=1024%2C560&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barbossa-Deadmans-Chest.jpg?resize=300%2C164&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barbossa-Deadmans-Chest.jpg?resize=768%2C420&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barbossa-Deadmans-Chest.jpg?resize=1536%2C841&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Barbossa-Deadmans-Chest.jpg?w=1937&amp;ssl=1 1937w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man\u2019s Chest <\/em>(2006) &#8211; Walt Disney Pictures<\/strong><br>Captain Barbossa appears seemingly back from the dead before cutting to the credits leaving us on a series cliffhanger.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plot Voucher<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The Plot Voucher is the antithesis of a Red Herring. This is a character or object that is introduced early on in the film in which its set-up will pay-off later in the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This compliments a <em>related writing<\/em> concept known as Chekhov&#8217;s Gun derived from the writings of playwright Anton Chekhov. In one of his writings, he states,&#8221; If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don\u2019t put it there.\u201d In essence, <strong>every story element presented to the audience must serve a purpose.<\/strong> I<strong>rrelevant elements should be removed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Light-of-Ea%CC%88rendil_Gift.png?resize=1024%2C577&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Plot Voucher plot devices\" class=\"wp-image-389\" style=\"width:828px;height:466px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Light-of-Ea%CC%88rendil_Gift.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Light-of-Ea%CC%88rendil_Gift.png?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/editmentor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Light-of-Ea%CC%88rendil_Gift.png?resize=768%2C433&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><strong><em>Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring<\/em> (2001) &#8211; New Line Cinema<\/strong><br>Galadriel gives Frodo The Light of E\u00e4rendil in which she says,&#8221;may it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.&#8221; The gift may seem like a symbolic gift of hope for Frodo on his perilous quest. However, he uses it in the darkness of the deadly Shelob&#8217;s lair in the third film.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Finding ways to move a film\u2019s narrative forward can be challenging. Filmmakers will often employ the usage of Plot Devices to aid in the story&#8217;s progression.&nbsp; A plot device can take many forms. However, at its core they are common storytelling mechanics to advance the plot. At times these tropes run the risk of feeling [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,97],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","category-video","tag-plot-device"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>EditMentor - Plot Devices: Most Popular Devices Used in Movies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about the most popular plot devices with examples of how famous filmmakers used them. 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